Bottom Line:
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) contains a wealth of information on the health status of Medicare beneficiaries.In particular, the 2004 MCBS included a series of questions about diabetes care for those who reported they had the condition, and diabetes screening for those who said they did not.This highlight reviews some of the characteristics of the diabetic population compared to the non-diabetic population.

ABSTRACTThe Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) contains a wealth of information on the health status of Medicare beneficiaries. In particular, the 2004 MCBS included a series of questions about diabetes care for those who reported they had the condition, and diabetes screening for those who said they did not. This highlight reviews some of the characteristics of the diabetic population compared to the non-diabetic population.

f6-hcfr-29-03-069: Percent Distribution of Diabetics and Non-Diabetics, by Body Mass Index: 2004The distribution of body mass index (BMI) is clearly different for diabetics and non-diabetics: while 36.5 percent of diabetics are obese (BMI 30 or above), only 16.7 percent of non-diabetics are obese. Looking at normal weight (BMI 25) or below, 26.5 percent of diabetics, and 44.9 percent of non-diabetics are in this range.

f6-hcfr-29-03-069: Percent Distribution of Diabetics and Non-Diabetics, by Body Mass Index: 2004The distribution of body mass index (BMI) is clearly different for diabetics and non-diabetics: while 36.5 percent of diabetics are obese (BMI 30 or above), only 16.7 percent of non-diabetics are obese. Looking at normal weight (BMI 25) or below, 26.5 percent of diabetics, and 44.9 percent of non-diabetics are in this range.

Bottom Line:
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) contains a wealth of information on the health status of Medicare beneficiaries.In particular, the 2004 MCBS included a series of questions about diabetes care for those who reported they had the condition, and diabetes screening for those who said they did not.This highlight reviews some of the characteristics of the diabetic population compared to the non-diabetic population.

ABSTRACTThe Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) contains a wealth of information on the health status of Medicare beneficiaries. In particular, the 2004 MCBS included a series of questions about diabetes care for those who reported they had the condition, and diabetes screening for those who said they did not. This highlight reviews some of the characteristics of the diabetic population compared to the non-diabetic population.